Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at 70
In honor of Disability Pride Month and the 70th anniversary of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), join the Academy on Wednesday, July 15th, from 5:30–8:30 PM at the Eaton Hotel Rooftop in Washington, DC, as we honor SSDI’s history and look ahead to what the next chapter of disability policy demands of us. Speakers will include:
National Academy of Social Insurance Names Julia Simon-Mishel and Jen Burdick Inaugural Fellows of Practice
New fellowship recognizes leading practitioners whose expertise comes from advancing access to social insurance in practice. Washington, D.C. — The National Academy of Social Insurance today announced that Julia Simon-Mishel and Jen Burdick have been named the Academy’s inaugural Fellows of Practice. The new fellowship recognizes distinguished practitioners whose expertise in social insurance is grounded […]
Lunch-and-Learn: Long-Term Services and Supports 101
As Medicaid faces unprecedented pressure in Washington, including proposed cuts that would dramatically reduce funding for Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), especially for home and community-based care, understanding LTSS has never been more urgent. On June 23rd, 2026, the Academy hosted a virtual Lunch-and-Learn exploring LTSS policy. This session included an introduction to the landscape […]
Understanding the 2026 Trustees Report
Social Security is one of the nation’s most successful and enduring sources of economic security, providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to millions of Americans and their families. Yet the program faces a long-anticipated financing challenge that will force lawmakers to take action in the coming years. On June 11th, 2026, the Academy hosted a […]
40th Anniversary Gala & 2026 Robert M. Ball Award
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGPxovKrw6s As part of our 40th Anniversary Campaign, the Academy hosted its 40th Anniversary Gala on the evening of June 9, 2026, in Washington, DC. The evening brought together Members, partners, and leaders from across sectors to honor the Academy’s legacy and look ahead to what’s next. As part of the celebration, we honored two […]
Statement from Rebecca Vallas, Chief Executive Officer of the National Academy of Social Insurance, on the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report
Washington, D.C. — For more than 90 years, Social Security has been part of the fabric of American life. Nearly all Americans say Social Security will be important or very important to their income when they retire. Nine in ten say Social Security’s disability insurance would be critical if they experienced a work-limiting disability. And millions […]
National Academy of Social Insurance Announces 2026 Honorees Ahead of 40th Anniversary Gala
Washington, D.C. – The National Academy of Social Insurance is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Robert M. Ball Award for Outstanding Achievements in Social Insurance, along with this year’s winners of the Frances Perkins Next Generation Award and the inaugural Robert Pear Award for Excellence in Social Insurance Journalism. The Academy will […]
Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab Launches Initiative to Reduce Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries with Low Incomes
New state-based model policies aim to simplify enrollment into the Medicare Savings Programs; public comment period now open Washington, D.C. — The Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab today announced its first major policy initiative: a set of model policies designed to help states simplify access to Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), which provide critical financial […]
National Academy of Social Insurance Announces Election of New Board Members and 90 New Members of the Academy
Washington, D.C. – The National Academy of Social Insurance is pleased to announce the election of several of the nation’s top social insurance experts to steer its Board of Directors and the election of 90 new Academy Members—the largest and most diverse new member class in the Academy’s 40 year history. New Board Members Newly […]
Policy Summit 2026 – “The People Say”: Centering People in the Future of Aging & Disability Policy
Too often, public policy is designed around assumptions about what people need rather than listening to what they actually say. This conversation centers insights from qualitative research with older adults and people with disabilities, bringing their voices and perspectives to the forefront and exploring what it looks like to align our policy frameworks with the […]